Sunday 29 November 2015 13:41, UK
Davis Cup winner Henri Leconte expects Andy Murray to handle the pressure of this week's final in Belgium - but knows from experience that a Great Britain win is far from certain.
Leconte was a member of France's victorious Davis Cup team in 1991 when he played a key role, defeating Pete Sampras in what was a big upset in the final.
World number two Murray will look to avoid such a result this weekend when he is expected in many quarters to win three rubbers - as he did against France and Australia in previous rounds - to earn GB their first Davis Cup triumph since 1936.
While Leconte makes the British side "favourites, of course" for the clay-court tie in Ghent, which gets under way on Friday, he is fully subscribed to that theory that "in Davis Cup you never know".
"Andy knows about handling the pressure, winning Grand Slams - he knows what it's all about," said Leconte.
"I know he's very excited about playing this week and is very happy about the courts and the way he is playing. He's been thinking about it (the final) for a long time.
"He'll need to win two, probably three, matches to win the trophy but he's capable of doing that."
Leconte expects no upsets on day one when Murray and Belgian number one David Goffin will start heavy favourites to win their respective rubbers.
And if Belgium are to spring an upset - they start 3/1 outsiders to win the trophy - then he sees Goffin as perhaps the man most likely to push them to victory.
"On paper, Great Britain are stronger than Belgium but they fight really well," Leconte said.
"Goffin has nothing to lose (when he plays Murray on Sunday). It's just a matter of doing well. If Andy is a little bit nervous or not playing as well (as he can), you never know.
"Sometimes the odd happens. I was ranked 154th in the world (it was actually 159th) and played Sampras (ranked sixth). Look what happened. It changed my career, winning that match.
"I also remember when Carl-Uwe Steeb beat Mats Wilander when he was world number one (in 1988) in the Davis Cup final. It's true - anything can happen.
"It's a matter of playing your best and putting the pressure on the other player."
If Andy is a little bit nervous or not playing as well (as he can), you never know.
Legendary entertainer Leconte can see parallels with Roger Federer's pursuit of Davis Cup glory 12 months ago.
He added: "I remember what happened last year when we (France) played Switzerland - Roger Federer had won 17 Grand Slams but hadn't won the Davis Cup.
"He was so happy when he won that title. It's another thing, completely different to a Grand Slam tournament. It would be great for Great Britain to win it."
Leconte does not feel this week's security concerns, caused by the ongoing terror threat in nearby Brussels, will have affected either team significantly, despite the fact that the British delayed their arrival in Belgium by 24 hours.
He recalls having one of France's ties switched during their 1991 run - an away trip to Israel was rearranged as a home match - but says as long as the players are "focused", nothing should change.
"I think they've handled it well," said Leconte. "It's always complicated (a situation like this).
"It was a disaster (in Paris) but you have to play on. That makes people understand we are not afraid.
"Life goes on and you have to prove nothing is going to change."
